Cobras advance with playoff win over Seminoles

MIDDLEBORO — After a subpar regular season campaign, the Middleboro Cobras were expected to fade and be forgotten in this year's Eastern Football League playoffs. Not so fast.

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By GREG DUDEK

southcoasttoday.com

By GREG DUDEK

Posted Oct. 17, 2013 at 10:21 AM

By GREG DUDEK
Posted Oct. 17, 2013 at 10:21 AM

» Social News

MIDDLEBORO — After a subpar regular season campaign, the Middleboro Cobras were expected to fade and be forgotten in this year's Eastern Football League playoffs. Not so fast.

The Cobras entered the playoffs as the sixth seed, and playing the underdog for the first time in a long time, Middleboro went on the road and upset the third seeded Eastern Mass. Seminoles, 27-7, on Sunday to advance to the semifinals.

"When you win a lot of championships, you get this poise, and we are a big game team," said team owner and offensive lineman Garrett Perry. "I think our team is peaking at the absolute perfect time."

Middleboro advances to face the undefeated number-one seed, the Worcester Fury, on Saturday night at Foley Stadium in Worcester. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

The Fury (11-0) present a tough matchup for the Cobras, as Worcester blew out the Cobras 37-7 in their only regular season meeting. Going into the semifinals, and one game away from their third straight EFL title game, the Cobras will have to hold onto the football and cut down on mistakes if they look to pull off the upset.

"We have to win the penalty battle and we absolutely can't afford turnovers," Perry said. "The guys we have healthy now are pretty solid. Our talent matches up with Worcester well.

"Worcester is well disciplined. If you hand them the football they'll turn it into points. If our offense gives up turnovers, I think it's unlikely that we win. We need ball security and if we do that, I think we could be headed back to the Super Bowl."

In the first-round playoff win over the Seminoles, the Cobras were led by their defense, as they returned two interceptions for touchdowns.

The biggest play of the game came late in the third quarter when safety Jeff Stewart halted a long drive by the Seminoles when he intercepted a pass at the Cobras 20-yard line.

On Stewart's return, he was met by a wall of Seminoles, but pitched the ball back to Gabe Boatwright, who took the ball 70 yards for a touchdown and a commanding 21-7 lead.

"That single play carried us through to the final gun," Perry said. "It was a huge play for momentum. Eastern Mass. wilted after that and you could see that play sucked the life out of them."

The Cobras defense also got things going to start the game, when cornerback Ronnie Guyton picked off a pass during the middle of the first quarter and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 advantage.

The Seminoles then answered with a second quarter touchdown off of a Middleboro turnover to tie the game, 7-7.

Middleboro responded back right before halftime, as they put together a long drive mainly on the ground with help from running backs Lamont Penn, John Santos, and Joe Ciavattone, Jr. Quarterback Eric Boatwright capped off the drive when he connected with Zyhair Dotson for a 25-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead going into halftime.

The Cobras led from that point on, and scored for the final time at the beginning of the fourth quarter on a five-yard run by Ciavattone, Jr.

If the Cobras advance to the EFL title game, they will have a chance to capture their third straight championship. Matching up in the other EFL semifinal are the Taunton Gladiators and Bay State Bucs, who play on Sunday at Bridgewater State University at 6 p.m.